It's a Utica Thing! Kitchen & Bar

Shared a fantastic bday experience with a variety of great food including fish, pasta, riggies, and greens. Don't let the strip mall area and parking fool you as the inside atmosphere is a cool vibe. Great staff that even sang HB over a candle lit Canoli! Highly recommend

This was our first visit. Our waitress was extremely enthusiastic, very pleasant, made recommendations on request, and checked on us often. The other waitstaff and bar staff seemed professional and competent, too. I watched a bar person shaking a drink together and decided John Taffer need NOT stop by. Our food was delicious and we could tell it was made from scratch, as advertised. Rich flavors in the sauces and fillings, great texture to the pasta, warm bread to nosh on before being served. My one thought, as I ate a garlic infused ravioli dish (off the specials-of-the-day menu) was that it could have done with a sprinkling of toasted pine nuts, but otherwise I could have downed a whole extra serving. We agreed we'd come back again.

Went there with a large party had to wait so sat at the bar. My husband and I ordered a couple drinks. I ordered a white Russian, which came out dark brown. As the bartender was making my white Russian, she was opening coffee half-and-half, and put three in my glass so obviously the drink sucked and I did say something and got something else then onto dinner. We had a large pizza with our meal, which was good a little overcooked, but overall, it was OK Not a lot of cheese on it then we ordered dinner and we all had fish fries. The fish fries came out looks like frozen fish and the fries were from the bottom of the bag. I don’t think any of us had a fry longer than 1 inch then the condiments come out with the meal and they’re in a little Silver cup that you see at all restaurants and there must’ve been at least a teaspoon of ketchup and a teaspoon of tartar for each dish I asked the waitress for more and she did bring a couple more that were looked half empty also and when I asked for more ketchup, she ended up bringing me packets so I had to open them myself Along with the fish fry came a salad. They call it a side salad, but it was in a tiny little bowl and had a tomato cut in threes and you got one piece. I did say something about the fish and they insisted it was fresh. I know fresh fish fries I’ve been to plenty it does not compare to Venice, pizzeria Waterville pizzeria, or even the Boulevard diner But most of all it cost $23 for this piece of frozen fish and bottom of the bag fries will never go there again or visit their food truck save your money and do your research. This place is definitely cheap and their quality and service suck.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 1

Had the chicken riggies and utica greens at there tent at the state fair on sunday. Worst chicken riggies I've ever had. Under cooked pasta with chicken and red sauce. A very poor representation of a wonderful Utica dish.
Utica greens were just Ok. Staff was very friendly and professional.

Food: 2

Service: 5

WORST RIGGIES. It’s tomato soup and noodles that have no sauce to stick to them cause the sauce is the consistency of red dyed water

Food: 1

I can’t speak highly enough of the food and service we received here! I’m allergic to wheat, the server was really knowledgeable when it came to food allergies. The gluten free riggies were incredible, it’s been weeks and I’m still thinking about this meal.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

The wife and I were driving to upper New York for my work. Decided we needed some lunch. Found this place and when we started turning down roads to it we wondered what we got ourselves into. Don’t let all that stuff worry you. It’s a Very nice place and the food was excellent. The waitress was super nice and helpful. Even the owner stopped by the table to ask how we liked the food.
If your near here stop in everything we tried was great.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Good food good service just had pizza and wings tonight all were good the server was there to refill it Our drinks The only negative thing was the music it was not for me should try and assortment and read the room 4 couples were there and we were all over 50

Ordered a fish fry. Fish was good but it came with french fries, about 3/4 cup container if salad and some ketchup packets. No cole slaw and no tartar sauce. I think 25 is a little expensive and you don't even get tartar sauce.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Just met some friends from Vermont at It’s a Utica Thing for dinner. Server Hana was great, friendly, attentive and did a phenomenal job. Food was top shelf. Chicken Riggi’s, Chicken Parm, Fried Chicken sandwich, giant calzone and cannoli’s were outstanding. Co-Owner/Chef Charlie made it a point to stop at our table, check on our meals, introduce himself and chat. I would encourage anyone to stop at this great spot to enjoy a delicious home cooked meal. The restaurant was spotless as was the restroom. We live 125 miles away but will be returning to enjoy great food served and cooked by great people. We also will be picking up some of their sauce at Wegmans this week

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Absolutely fantastic food most definitely will be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food, great atmosphere. Definitely going again

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Had a fabulous lunch here with my Mom while visiting Utica (we're new part-timers discovering the area). What a great intro to the Utica dining scene! Great upscale casual vibe, lovely service, and excellent food. We shared the meatballs (divine) and Utica Sunday Sandwich (sublime) that came with fries (crisped to perfection). This place goes right up againt some of my favorite places in NYC! Can't wait to come back for dinner. Highly recommend.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Wonderful Utica Greens

Made a stop along our route on our way home. So good and glad we did.

Atmosphere: 5